SpaceX reportedly in talks to use 80,000 cell sites in push to compete with major US mobile carriers

Summary

SpaceX plans to access at least 80,000 cell sites as part of efforts to compete directly with Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, according to a Bloomberg report. Sources told Bloomberg that SpaceX is in talks with Crown Castle Inc., one of the nation's largest cell tower owners, and that the move would give SpaceX access to those sites. Reports of Starlink's discussions with cell-tower owners drew attention from shareholders of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, and telecom stocks were hit again as a result.

Timeline

1. The Verge

   23 Oct 2026, 15:16 UTCSource ↗

   The Verge reports, citing a Bloomberg report, that SpaceX plans to access at least 80,000 cell sites to compete directly with Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, and that SpaceX is in talks with Crown Castle Inc.

2. MarketWatch

   23 Oct 2026, 21:11 UTCSource ↗

   MarketWatch reports that the mobile ambitions of SpaceX are hitting telecom stocks again, after reports of Starlink's discussions with cell-tower owners were noticed by shareholders of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.